asked the Secretary for Mines how many pits in Lancashire and Cheshire are working less than full time; and what accounts for this condition of affairs?

During the most recent week unaffected by holidays, 59 pits in Lancashire and Cheshire worked less than full time. The average amount of time lost, spread over the whole district, was about half a day. I am informed that at that time there was a little difficulty in disposing of the full output of house coal.